Franklin University

Franklin University
Seal of Franklin University
Former names
YMCA School of Commerce
TypePrivate university
Established1902; 122 years ago (1902)[1]
Endowment$88.3 million (2020)[2]
PresidentDavid R. Decker[3]
ProvostChristopher L. Washington[4]
Location
Columbus
,
Ohio
,
United States

39°57′29″N 82°59′28″W / 39.95806°N 82.99111°W / 39.95806; -82.99111
CampusVarious Locations
Online[1]
Websitefranklin.edu

Franklin University is a private university with its main campus in Columbus, Ohio, United States. It was founded in 1902 to serve the needs of students beyond traditional undergraduate age. On-site courses are offered at the university's campus in Columbus' Discovery District. However, most students take courses online. The university has over 25 location centers in the Midwestern United States[5] and a majority online population, and reports an average student age of 34 years.[6]

History

Sign on Grant Avenue
Franklin University Clock Tower in front of Fisher Hall
The Huntington Courtyard on Franklin's Main Campus

Franklin University has a history of serving older adult students that spans more than a hundred years. It was founded in 1902 at the Columbus Downtown YMCA, under its sponsorship as the YMCA School of Commerce.[7] It changed its name to Franklin University in 1933, and amicably discontinued its formal affiliation with the YMCA in 1964.

Five years later, in 1969, the institution opened its first building, Frasch Hall. In 1976, Franklin University earned regional accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

In 1993, Franklin offered its first graduate program, the Master of Business Administration (MBA). In 1998, Franklin University created the Community College Alliance (CCA), a program designed to ease the way for community college students to transfer the maximum number of community college credits toward completing a bachelor's degree at Franklin.

In 2009, the university began offering its MBA at the WSB Merito Universities in Poland. Since signing this agreement with WSB, Franklin has entered into educational agreements with educational institutions in eight other countries.

Today, Franklin University offers a broad range of undergraduate majors and graduate programs. Its enrollment includes more than 300 international students from more than 72 countries. More than 135 community colleges across the U.S. have partnered with Franklin University to ease the way for community college students to transfer the maximum number of community college credits toward completing a bachelor's degree at Franklin. Franklin's Community College Alliance Program.[8]

In August 2011, Franklin announced its newest college, the College of Health and Public Administration or COHPA. Franklin now has three colleges, Arts, Sciences, and Technology; The Ross College of Business, and the College of Health & Public Administration.

Franklin University acquired Urbana University in Urbana, Ohio,[9] in 2014 and it served as a Franklin University branch campus until May 2020.[10][11]

In May 2016, the Higher Learning Commission approved Franklin's request to offer its first three doctoral degrees, namely the Doctor of Business Administration, the Doctor of Health Administration and the Doctor of Professional Studies in Instructional Design Leadership.[12]

Locations

The main campus of Franklin University is located in downtown Columbus, Ohio.

In addition to its domestic locations, Franklin University offers programs at international locations through agreements with affiliated universities. These include the Wroclaw School of Banking in Wroclaw, Poland, St. Clement of Ohrid University of Bitola in Bitola, North Macedonia, and the Modern College of Business & Science in Oman.[13]

Academics

The university offers degrees at the associate, baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral levels. Many of these programs can be completed entirely online. Undergraduate admissions are open.[14]

It also operates a coaching program[15] that allows undergraduate and graduate students to be mentored toward reaching academic, professional, and personal goals under the guidance of professionals whom the university has appointed as coaches. Coaches are not university staff, but are professionals working in industry. Each coach has a one-to-one relationship to a Franklin University student and provides monthly mentoring and guidance to that student.

Franklin University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission[13] and authorized by the Ohio Department of Higher Education. Additionally, its business programs, including undergraduate and MBA programs, are accredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE).[16][17] The nursing baccalaureate program is accredited by Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).[18]

References

  1. ^ a b "Franklin University: About Franklin University". Retrieved 2010-08-18.
  2. ^ As of June 30, 2020. U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2020 Endowment Market Value and Change in Endowment Market Value from FY19 to FY20 (Report). National Association of College and University Business Officers and TIAA. February 19, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  3. ^ "Franklin University: Dr. Decker". Archived from the original on 2011-12-04. Retrieved 2010-08-18.
  4. ^ "Franklin University: Christopher L. Washington". Retrieved 2010-08-18.
  5. ^ "About Us". Franklin University. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  6. ^ "Trial and Error: Franklin University boosts retention with data". insidehighered.com.
  7. ^ "Franklin University: History of Franklin University". Retrieved 2010-08-18.
  8. ^ "Franklin University: Community College Students". Retrieved 2010-08-18.
  9. ^ Binkley, Collin (April 30, 2014). "Franklin University buys financially troubled Urbana University". Columbus Dispatch. Archived from the original on July 24, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
  10. ^ "Urbana University Resources | Franklin University". www.franklin.edu. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  11. ^ Urbana University Closing, Transitioning Current Students to Franklin University Online
  12. ^ HLC, HLC (May 16–17, 2016). "May 2016 Actions". Higher Learning Commission. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  13. ^ a b "Higher Learning Commission: Franklin University". Retrieved 2010-08-18.
  14. ^ "Undergraduate Students". Franklin University. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  15. ^ "Franklin University: Coaching Programs". Retrieved 2010-08-18.
  16. ^ "Franklin University: Accreditation". Retrieved 2010-08-18.
  17. ^ "IACBE: Member Listing: Ohio". Archived from the original on 2010-05-17. Retrieved 2010-08-18.
  18. ^ "CCNE-Accredited Nursing Degree Programs (Ohio)". Retrieved 2017-01-28.
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